Nike Reissue: McEnroe Challenge Court Mid (not Skate version) PICS

For those of us of a certain age, this shoe brings back lots of memories. IMO it still looks superb from any angle. Wished they reissued the grey one too with the signature socks to match.
Did anyone here grab a pair of these when they were released a couple of months ago? How do they fit in terms of sizing? Tight? Long? Any tips helpful cheers.

^ Bugger I pulled the online trigger on a sz10, thinking they'd run small. We shall soon see.
Yes I've seen the Classic. I'd like Nike to offer the Bruin Low in the same sky blue Swoosh as worn by Mac in his earliest Nike years. The current Bruins seem to offer every colourway but that original one.

^ I sometimes wonder whether Nike's branding nous and shoe nomenclature extended as far back as Mac's debut in '77. Like, did Nike even have a Tennis Division back then? Was the model as worn by Mac from 77-81 really marketed at the time as the "Wimbledon"? I thought they only thought that up in the late 80s when they released all those garment leathery ones (with purple/green checkerboard motif tongues etc) to compete with Reebok at the time. I just thought Nike tossed Mac a pair of lowcut basketball shoes and said, "there you go".

Who are the retailers you shop at? On the High St? I must check them out

I first saw the Bruin, Wimbledon, Diadora Elite and Stan Smith in 1981. But I know they were around a year or so before with the Casuals movement. I got my Nastase's in 1984, the Lendl shoes were also around then.

I think the Nike shoes became popular because of McEnroe, although I think Vitas wore them as well in 1977. I don't recall seeing McEnroe in them until 1979/80.

If you look pre-1978 the common shoe is still the Stan Smith (Borg wore them before Diadora) or a leather/canvas hybrid.

^ I sometimes wonder whether Nike's branding nous and shoe nomenclature extended as far back as Mac's debut in '77. Like, did Nike even have a Tennis Division back then? Was the model as worn by Mac from 77-81 really marketed at the time as the "Wimbledon"? I thought they only thought that up in the late 80s when they released all those garment leathery ones (with purple/green checkerboard motif tongues etc) to compete with Reebok at the time. I just thought Nike tossed Mac a pair of lowcut basketball shoes and said, "there you go".

Who are the retailers you shop at? On the High St? I must check them out

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No the Nike Wimbledon was out as far back as 1974 - 1975 - I had my first pair in late 1975 after I got some at the US Open that fall. Jimbo wore them as well from 1974 thru the late 70s before he went to Converse. In fact if you look at old pics or videos of Connors and others from the mid 70s you can see the all white and then the white and light blue Wimbledons all over the place.

The Wimbledon was Nike first tennis specifc shoe and was based on the adidas Halliet/Smith shoe.

JMac was not the first nor biggest star to tote them, Vitas, Connors.......very common shoe in the mid to late 70s - checkout pics of the 75 Connors/Ashe Wimby final - Connors clearly has the Nikes on.

No the Nike Wimbledon was out as far back as 1974 - 1975 - I had my first pair in late 1975 after I got some at the US Open that fall. Jimbo wore them as well from 1974 thru the late 70s before he went to Converse. In fact if you look at old pics or videos of Connors and others from the mid 70s you can see the all white and then the white and light blue Wimbledons all over the place.

The Wimbledon was Nike first tennis specifc shoe and was based on the adidas Halliet/Smith shoe.

JMac was not the first nor biggest star to tote them, Vitas, Connors.......very common shoe in the mid to late 70s - checkout pics of the 75 Connors/Ashe Wimby final - Connors clearly has the Nikes on.

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Nice info mate. I have a feeling Pam Shriver wore them too. Lovely looking shoe. They have them re-released here in the original design and in the slightly lower early 80's design but with a bright red swoosh....I seriously have my eye on them

^ Bugger I pulled the online trigger on a sz10, thinking they'd run small. We shall soon see.
Yes I've seen the Classic. I'd like Nike to offer the Bruin Low in the same sky blue Swoosh as worn by Mac in his earliest Nike years. The current Bruins seem to offer every colourway but that original one.

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I got the SB version as I prefer that colorway to the original. They do run a half size small just like all Nike running shoes (I know, they're trainers). They're still available if you do a little research.

In Europe they recently released a tennis classic in white leather with the light blue swoosh, really nice but sold out in my size :cry:

^^ LOL bugger that probably means one less shoe to exchange with if my sz10 is too big! What size did you cop? Admittedly I'd given up trying to find it in my size(s) until stumbling online. I better keep my mouth shut now

^^ LOL bugger that probably means one less shoe to exchange with if my sz10 is too big! What size did you cop? Admittedly I'd given up trying to find it in my size(s) until stumbling online. I better keep my mouth shut now

Robbo1970, didn't Andrea Jaeger wear something like Shriver also?

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I'm a 10 in these and all other Nike running shoes. My usual size is 9.5 in most other brands and with a few nike shoes.

I bought a pair of those 3 weeks ago in Italy!!!!! Nike Vintage AC Tennis!!!! Exact same as the original ones from 1974 - 1982 with the Lt Blue swoosh and the retro box.

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My old tennis mags from the 1970s show plenty of full page ads for adidas and Puma, but no Nike. I never knew they 'marketed' a 'dedicated' tennis shoe as early as then. I always assumed they slung Gerulaitis and McEnroe the light blue Swoosh'ed Bruin Lows as an afterthought. Would be interested to see any ads or promotional efforts for this shoe but I doubt any exists.

For those of us of a certain age, this shoe brings back lots of memories. IMO it still looks superb from any angle. Wished they reissued the grey one too with the signature socks to match.
Did anyone here grab a pair of these when they were released a couple of months ago? How do they fit in terms of sizing? Tight? Long? Any tips helpful cheers.

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I loved this shoe in the grey and black with the Checkerboard Nike logo on the tongue. (At least I believe it was just a different color of this shoe) The trainers were cool but this was my favorite Nike...

I loved this shoe in the grey and black with the Checkerboard Nike logo on the tongue. (At least I believe it was just a different color of this shoe) The trainers were cool but this was my favorite Nike...

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The shoe you speak of was called the "Mac Attack" and was released later on in his career. Those are very rare these days and haven't been re-released.

Borelli, do report back when the shoes arrive and give us your thoughts/mini-review.

Jeez now the Mac Attack was truly dope now that I've had another look on Google. I wonder why Nike's designers settled on grey as Mac's hero colour of the period? (not that it was a bad thing) I wonder if Tinker Hatfield ever had a hand in Nike Tennis prior to Agassi?

Nike has given a few subtle hints lately they the Mac Attack may see a retro. They recently released a shoe called the "Manor" if you google it, it looks like the same model as the Mac just without the mesh and checks. Hopefully they go all the way with it.

My old tennis mags from the 1970s show plenty of full page ads for adidas and Puma, but no Nike. I never knew they 'marketed' a 'dedicated' tennis shoe as early as then. I always assumed they slung Gerulaitis and McEnroe the light blue Swoosh'ed Bruin Lows as an afterthought. Would be interested to see any ads or promotional efforts for this shoe but I doubt any exists.

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I don't ever remember seeing an ad in any USA nor French tennis mags ever for Nike. You also have to remember Nike at the time was a small player and I'm sure didn't have much of an ad budget.......I worked part time at a tennis shop thru HS (mid to late 70s) in Queens, NY and Nike Wimbledon's were very popular and also sold in the big sporting shops like Herman's...etc. Still Puma and adidas were much much bigger.....

Just check out some old tennis clips from 1974 on and you will see tons of tour players toting the Wimbledons.......never saw anyone wear the Bruin shoe as it was BBall and came out after the Wimbledon anyway. That baby blue swoosh was a dead giveaway back then for the Wimbledon model.

My old tennis mags from the 1970s show plenty of full page ads for adidas and Puma, but no Nike. I never knew they 'marketed' a 'dedicated' tennis shoe as early as then. I always assumed they slung Gerulaitis and McEnroe the light blue Swoosh'ed Bruin Lows as an afterthought. Would be interested to see any ads or promotional efforts for this shoe but I doubt any exists.

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Just FYI the ORGINAL Wimbledon shoe was slated to be issued in 1972 but due to production issues had delay's......the first series of shoes were produced in Taiwan and Japan and had the swoosh in Lt Blue, Black or none at all just perforated. most of the USA stock from the 70s was made in Japan.

The Japanese models have a huge life now on the vintage market and folks pay top $$$ for early 70s 1st and 2nd generation Wimbledons. Crazy stuff.

I don't think the Nike footwear really got much publicity until McEnroe hit the big-time in about 1980. Prior to that there was the Hallait/Stan Smith but I don't recall late 70's/early 80's tennis wear gaining fashion status until the early 80's in the UK with the football casuals movement.

The basic story stems back to the Liverpool fans going to away matches in the late 70's/early 80's and seeing all these unknown brands like Fila, Tacchini and Diadora. Up until then, you either wore trainers for 'sport' or Adidas Gazelle or Samba. Nike Wimbledon's and Adidas SS were really only popular from about 1981/82. By then though, there were also a number of Adidas shoes coming through, like the Grand Slam, Nastase and Forest Hills, not to mention they also had a shoe called Wimbledon. Unheard of today....could you imagine seeing Adidas Vapour's!!

The Bruin and Adidas Superstar, both bball shoes were only popular from the Back to the Future movie and Run DMC.

But I too don't ever recall seeing ad's for Nike, it was just a case of seeing Mac wearing them and getting the same.

Nike has given a few subtle hints lately they the Mac Attack may see a retro. They recently released a shoe called the "Manor" if you google it, it looks like the same model as the Mac just without the mesh and checks. Hopefully they go all the way with it.

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<SIGH> Why did you tell me that? Now I might cop those extra dope Hazelnut Brown Manors as well. They're easily found online

Just FYI the ORGINAL Wimbledon shoe was slated to be issued in 1972 but due to production issues had delay's......the first series of shoes were produced in Taiwan and Japan and had the swoosh in Lt Blue, Black or none at all just perforated. most of the USA stock from the 70s was made in Japan. The Japanese models have a huge life now on the vintage market and folks pay top $$$ for early 70s 1st and 2nd generation Wimbledons. Crazy stuff.

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I think you could be the Keubler of vintage tennis footwear 1968-1990 - I'd buy your book if you wrote one

I don't think the Nike footwear really got much publicity until McEnroe hit the big-time in about 1980. Prior to that there was the Hallait/Stan Smith but I don't recall late 70's/early 80's tennis wear gaining fashion status until the early 80's in the UK with the football casuals movement.

The basic story stems back to the Liverpool fans going to away matches in the late 70's/early 80's and seeing all these unknown brands like Fila, Tacchini and Diadora. Up until then, you either wore trainers for 'sport' or Adidas Gazelle or Samba. Nike Wimbledon's and Adidas SS were really only popular from about 1981/82. By then though, there were also a number of Adidas shoes coming through, like the Grand Slam, Nastase and Forest Hills, not to mention they also had a shoe called Wimbledon. Unheard of today....could you imagine seeing Adidas Vapour's!! The Bruin and Adidas Superstar, both bball shoes were only popular from the Back to the Future movie and Run DMC. But I too don't ever recall seeing ad's for Nike, it was just a case of seeing Mac wearing them and getting the same.